BMW is due to release a slew of new turbo diesel engines in the United States throughout 2013 and 2014.

Among those in the diesel lineup is the F30 3 Series sedan diesel, due out in the first half of 2013; the F31 3 Series touring, due out in the second half of 2013; the F10 5 Series diesel, due out in the third quarter of 2013; the X5d diesel, due out at the end of 2013; the 7 Series diesel, due in the first half of 2014, and the X3d diesel, due in the first half of 2014.

According to F30Post, a 180 HP 4-cylinder engine may be assigned to 20d or 25d models while a 255 HP 6-cylinder engine may be assigned to 28d, 30d or 35d models. However, no official announcements have been made in that regard.

The irony is we drove our 2006 Jetta TDI to the test drive and came away underwhelmed by the performance of the TDI Passat. VW should make the 3.0 TDI as an optional package for the Passat. The Q7/Toureg are balanced with the 3.0 so the Passat will be enjoyable to drive and still frugal on fuel.

In related news, was eyeing the used market for a 2006 Toureg TDI... the one with the V10. I don't care how many quarts of oil it needs or what comes out the exhaust, driving that truck made me smile. Unfortunately, my wife is insisting on a third row so Q7 is taking the lead right now.